Curvilinear sealing system

ABSTRACT

A sealing system connecting first and second tubular members includes a first curvilinear sealing surface on the first tubular member and a second curvilinear sealing surface on the second tubular member. Both the first and second curvilinear sealing surfaces are disposed between two sets of threading on the respective first and second tubular members. When the first and second tubular members are in a connected configuration, the first and second curvilinear sealing surfaces contact and interfere to form an annular curvilinear center seal. A relief pocket may be disposed adjacent to the first and/or second curvilinear sealing surfaces to contain excess lubricant between the first and second tubular members.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application relates to tubular connections, and moreparticularly, to a tubular connection seal configuration havingcontacting curvilinear surfaces.

BACKGROUND

This section is intended to introduce various aspects of art that may berelated to various aspects of the present techniques, which aredescribed and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to behelpful in providing background information to facilitate a betterunderstanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure.Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to beread in this light, and not as admissions of prior art. The followingdescriptions and examples are not admitted to be prior art by virtue oftheir inclusion in this section.

The oil and gas industry is drilling upstream production wells ofincreasing depth and complexity to find and produce raw hydrocarbons.The industry routinely uses steel pipe, considered an Oil CountryTubular Good (OCTG) to protect the borehole (i.e., casing) and tocontrol the fluids produced within the pipe (i.e., tubing). Such pipe,including casing and tubing, are made and transported in relativelyshort segments and installed in the borehole one segment at a time, witheach segment being connected to the next. As the search for oil and gashas driven companies to drill deeper wells, pipes may be subject toincreased complexity and magnitude of forces throughout their lifespansdownhole. Industry demands have grown for casing, tubing, and connectorshaving increased tensile and pressure strengths. Furthermore, thedeveloping area of deviated and horizontal wells have exacerbated thistrend, further adding increased torsional loads as another requirementfor casing and tubing connectors.

Connectors have been designed with varying thread, shoulder, and sealconfigurations. For example, two general connector thread configurationsinclude a threaded and coupled connector and an integral connector. Athread and coupled connector includes a pin (i.e., a male threaded end)machined on relatively long joints of pipe and joined by the box (i.e.,a female threaded end) machined on a relatively short coupling. Anintegral connector includes a pin threaded on a full-length pipeconnected to a box threaded to another full-length pipe, and pin and boxends may be threaded onto opposite sides of each full-length pipesegment so that each segment may be connected for a length of aborehole. One type of shoulder and seal combination includes a centershoulder seal, which includes a sealing section in a connection disposedbetween at least two threaded portions. The sealing section of a pin orbox may have direct contact with the sealing section of another pin orbox and may function to prevent the passage of liquid or gas across thethreads of the assembled connection. As industry demands connectors withincreasingly high tensile strength, pressure strength, and torque, etc.,the general features of connectors may be further designed andengineered to meet downhole performance criteria.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts that arefurther described below in the detailed description. This summary is notintended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subjectmatter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope ofthe claimed subject matter.

In one embodiment, a sealing system includes a first tubular member anda second tubular member. The first tubular member includes a firstthread set and a second thread set and a first curvilinear sealingsurface disposed axially between the first and second thread sets. Thesecond tubular member includes a third thread set and a fourth threadset and a second curvilinear sealing surface disposed axially betweenthe third and fourth thread sets. The first tubular member and thesecond tubular member are configured to connect when the first threadset engages with the third thread set and the second thread set engageswith the fourth thread set. The first and second curvilinear sealingsurfaces are configured to interfere at an interference region when thefirst and second tubular members connect.

Some embodiments include one or both of a first relief recess disposedon the first tubular member, between the first thread set and the firstcurvilinear sealing surface and a second relief recess disposed on thesecond tubular member, between the fourth thread set and the secondcurvilinear sealing surface. In some embodiments, the first, second,third, and fourth thread sets comprise square threads, wedge threads,variable pitch threads, or combinations of different thread geometries.In different embodiments, the first and second curvilinear sealingsurfaces may have an elliptical curve, a circular curve, a toroidalcurve, a varying-radius curve, or curve combinations of these curves.The first and second curvilinear surfaces may have identical curves ordifferent curve geometries. Moreover, in different embodiments, thefirst and second curvilinear surfaces may be symmetrical or asymmetricalwhen the first and second tubular members connect. The interferenceregion may be approximately centered between the first and second threadsets, or may be at any axial point between the first and second threadsets. In some embodiments, the sealing system is configured such that anaxis of the annular seal may change without forming discontinuities inthe annular seal.

In another embodiment, a method includes moving a first tubular memberrelative to a second tubular member, such that a pin end of the firsttubular member enters and axially overlaps with a box end of the secondtubular member. The method further includes rotating the first tubularmember relative to the second tubular member, such that a firstthreading and a second threading on the first tubular member engageswith a third threading and a fourth threading on the second tubularmember, respectively. The method then involves connecting the firsttubular member to the second tubular member, such that a firstcurvilinear surface on the first tubular member between the first andsecond threading contacts a second curvilinear surface on the secondtubular member between the third and fourth threading. A contact forcebetween the first and second curvilinear surfaces form an annular sealbetween the first and second tubular members.

In some embodiments, the contact force comprises a compressional forcebetween the first and second curvilinear surfaces. Furthermore, in someembodiments, the contact force comprises a radial force extending alongan annular dimension between the first and second tubular members toform the annular seal.

In some embodiments, rotating the first tubular member relative to thesecond tubular member comprises displacing lubricant between the pin endand the box end into at least one of a first recess on the first tubularmember between the first thread and the first curvilinear surface and asecond recess on the second tubular member between the fourth thread andthe second curvilinear surface.

One or more embodiments include a connection having a curvilinear centerseal. The connection includes a first tubular member having a firstthread set and a second thread set and a first curvilinear surfacedisposed axially between the first and second thread sets and a secondtubular member having a third thread set and a fourth thread set and asecond curvilinear surface disposed axially between the third and fourththread sets. The first tubular member and the second tubular memberconnect when the first thread set engages with the third thread set andthe second thread set engages with the fourth thread set to result inradial force between the first curvilinear surface and the secondcurvilinear surface.

In some embodiments, the first and third thread sets have wedge threadgeometries, the second and fourth thread sets have wedge threadgeometries, or the first, second, third, and fourth thread sets havewedge thread geometries.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the present techniques are described with reference tothe following figures. The same numbers are used throughout the figuresto reference like features and components. Various embodiments mayutilize elements and/or components other than those illustrated in thedrawings, and some elements and/or components may not be present invarious embodiments. Elements and/or components in the figures are notnecessarily drawn to scale.

FIG. 1 is a partial cross-section of a center shoulder seal arrangement;

FIG. 2 is a partial cross-section of another center shoulder sealarrangement;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross-section of one embodiment of a center shoulderseal;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-section of another embodiment of a centershoulder seal;

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-section of another embodiment of a centershoulder seal in which the location of primary sealing contact toopposite sides of the connection includes engaged threads to one side ofthe center-shoulder, but lacks any engaged threads to the other side ofthe center-shoulder;

FIG. 6 is a partial cross section of an embodiment of a center sealhaving contacting curvilinear surfaces;

FIG. 7A is a partial cross sectional diagram of an embodiment of acurvilinear surface on a center sealing surface of one tubular member;

FIG. 7B is an expanded view of the curvilinear portion of the centersealing surface depicted in FIG. 7B;

FIG. 7C is a partial cross sectional diagram of an embodiment of acenter sealing surface where opposite tubular members have contactingcurvilinear surfaces; and

FIG. 8 is a partial cross sectional and three-quarter rendering ofconnected tubular members having contacting curvilinear surfaces at acenter seal.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a center shoulder seal connection having five metal-to-metalseals: two metal-to-metal seals at the exterior beveled edges of thelocked double shoulder seal 400 where sealing surfaces 418 and 438 arein contact and where sealing surfaces 422 and 442 are in contact; and,three zero clearance surfaces at the interior of the locked doubleshoulder seal 400, one 410 at the wall surface where sealing cylindricalsurfaces contact, another zero clearance surface where the annular facesurface of the pin shoulder 420 contacts the box undercut surface 448,and another zero clearance surface where the face surface of boxshoulder 440 contacts pin undercut surface 428. Thus, center-shoulderseal 400 forms a very close fitting metal-to-metal seal having matingmetal-to-metal sealing surfaces which allow a build-up of stored energywithin the seal upon power tightening of the assembled connection, suchthat upon the application of various loads on the pipe and also theconnection, the seal will continue to perform and maintain sealingengagement. Notably, all of the metal-to-metal seals are formed withinthe axial space 450 between the sets of contacting annular faces of thecenter shoulder, and the metal-to-metal seals at the exterior bevelededges of shoulder seal 400, each of which exhibits radial forces, areeach located immediately adjacent a respective one of the sets ofcontacting annular faces.

FIG. 2 is a center shoulder seal connection having at least two and upto seven metal-to-metal seals are established between the pin and boxmembers. Three of the seven seals are frustum seals. A first outerfrustum seal 120 is formed by the engagement of pin and boxfrustoconical surfaces at the radially outer side of the center shoulderand a second inner frustum seal 122 is formed between pin and boxfrustoconical surfaces at the radially inner side of the centershoulder. The third frustum seal is a center frustum seal 124 formedbetween intermediated pin and box center frustoconical surfaces. Twoannular shoulder seals are formed. A first inner annular shoulder seal126 a second outer annular shoulder seal 128, each by engaged annularsurfaces of the pin and box members. Two cylindrical seals are alsoformed. A first outer cylindrical seal 130 is formed by the engagementof pin and box outer seal cylindrical surfaces at the radially outerside and a second inner cylindrical seal 132 is formed by the engagementof pin and box seal cylindrical surfaces at the radially inner side.Notably, this arrangement also places each of the metal-to-metal sealsthat are exposed to significant radial and hoop forces (i.e., contactingseals 122 and 120) immediately adjacent a respective one of the sets ofcontacting annular faces (i.e., at annular contacting seals 126 and 128)and likewise within the axial space 150 between the two annular shoulderseals.

Referring to FIG. 3, a partial cross-section of a center shoulderconnection 200 between two tubular members 202 and 204 is shown. Tubularmember 202 forms the pin portion of the connection and tubular member204 forms the box end of the connection. An axial centerline of theconnection is shown at 206, and it is recognized that a fullcross-section of the center shoulder connection would include a mirrorimage of the components on the opposite side of the axial centerline(i.e., below the centerline 206 in FIG. 3).

A seal configuration on tubular member 202 includes an annular groove208 and an annular tooth 210. The annular groove 208 is defined by aradially inward facing (i.e., facing toward the centerline 206) undercutsurface 212, an adjacent annular shoulder face 214 and an adjacentradially outward facing surface 216. The annular tooth is defined by theradially inward facing undercut surface 212, an annular tooth face 218and a radially outward facing surface 220. In the illustratedembodiment, the surface 216 includes a corner radius that transitions tothe shoulder face 214, and the surface 220 includes a corner radius thattransitions to the tooth face 218.

A seal configuration on the tubular member 204 includes an annulargroove 222 and an annular tooth 224. The annular groove 222 is definedby a radially outward facing undercut surface 226, an adjacent annularshoulder face 228 and an adjacent radially inward facing surface 230.The annular tooth 224 is defined by the radially outward facing undercutsurface 226, an annular tooth face 232 and a radially inward facingsurface 234. In the illustrated embodiment, the surface 230 includes acorner radius that transitions to the shoulder face 228, and the surface234 includes a corner radius that transitions to the tooth face 232.

FIG. 3 shows the connection in made up condition, in which the annulartooth 224 is positioned within the annular groove 208 with the annulartooth face 232 engaging the annular shoulder face 214 to define oneshoulder, which is represented by shoulder plane 236. Likewise, theannular tooth 210 is positioned within the annular groove 222 with theannular tooth face 218 engaging the annular shoulder face 228 to defineanother shoulder, which is represented by shoulder plane 238. In theillustrated embodiment the undercut surfaces 212 and 226 also engageeach other, which can act as a further sealing location, as can theengaged shoulders. At opposite axial sides of the connection, engagedthreaded sections or the tubular members are also shown schematically at260 and 262.

As illustrated, clearance may be provided between the radially outwardfacing surface 216 and the radially inward facing surface 234 invicinity of the shoulder plane 236. The location of primary sealingcontact between the radially outward facing surface 216 and the radiallyinward facing surface 234, which location is shown in FIG. 3 at 240, isspaced axially away from the shoulder plane 236 to define ametal-to-metal seal contact area 242 (represented by interference of thesurfaces shown in cross-hatch) that is axially spaced from the shoulderplane 236. As used herein the terminology “location of primary sealingcontact” between two specified surfaces means the location of maximumcontact pressure between the two surfaces. Thus, by way of example, insome embodiments surfaces 216 and 234 may make slight contact with eachother in the vicinity of the shoulder plane 236 (e.g., within an axialregion 246 between the shoulder planes 236 and 238) while, at the sametime, the location of primary sealing contact between the surfaces 216and 234 is spaced further away from the shoulder plane 236. Generally,the location of maximum contact pressure, and thus the location ofprimary sealing contact, will occur proximate the location of maximuminterference between the surfaces.

Clearance may also be provided between the radially inward facingsurface 230 and the radially outward facing surface 220 in vicinity ofthe shoulder plane 238 or, as noted above, only slight contact betweenthe surfaces may occur in the vicinity of the shoulder plane 238.Regardless, the location of primary sealing contact between the radiallyinward facing surface 230 and the radially outward facing surface 220,which location is shown in FIG. 3 at 243, is spaced axially away fromthe shoulder plane 238 to define a metal-to-metal seal contact area 244(represented by interference of the surfaces shown in cross-hatch) thatis axially spaced from the shoulder plane 238. Notably, in the case ofboth primary seal contact areas 242 and 244 of the illustratedembodiment, the location of primary sealing contact is located outsideof the axial region 246 of the connection defined between the twoshoulders planes 236 and 238.

The exact location of primary sealing contact between the surfaces(e.g., 216 and 234 or 220 and 230) can vary based upon various factors,including the necessary torque limit required in the connection, as wellas thickness and diameter of the tubular connection.

By way of example: the location of primary sealing contact 240 may beaxially spaced from the shoulder plane 236 by between about 25thousandths of an inch and about one inch; the location of primarysealing contact 243 may be axially spaced from the shoulder plane 238 bybetween about 25 thousandths of an inch and about one inch; the axialregion 246 may extend from between about 20 thousandths of an inch andabout 250 thousandths of an inch; a radial spacing between the radiallyoutward facing surface 216 and the radially outward facing surface 220in the shoulder plane 236 may be between about 40 thousandths of an inchand about 500 thousandths of an inch; and a radial spacing between theradially inward facing surface 230 and the radially inward facingsurface 234 in the shoulder plane 238 may be between about 40thousandths of an inch and about 500 thousandths of an inch.

In the illustrated embodiment, each of the surfaces 216, 220, 230 and234 are shown as curvilinear surfaces. Such curvilinear surfaces may, byway of example, when considered in two dimensions along a plane thatextends through and runs parallel to the central axis 206 of theconnection, include elliptical curves, circular curves, varying radiuscurves of any suitable type (e.g., curve radius generally between about0.5 inches and about 15 inches for most effective sealing), orcombinations thereof, and the corresponding 3-D surface shapes producedupon rotation of any such curve about the central axis 206 of theconnection. However, it is recognized that the surfaces need not beentirely curvilinear or, for that matter, curvilinear at all. Forexample, in one possible modified version of the embodiment of FIG. 3,surfaces 220 and 234 remain curvilinear, but surfaces 216 and 230 aremade frustoconical, such that each location of primary sealing contact240 and 243 is made with respect to an interference between acurvilinear surface and a frustoconical surface.

Referring to the alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 4, an embodimentof a center shoulder seal configuration 300 with axial centerline 306 inwhich the primary metal-to-metal contact seals are not formed bycurvilinear surface portions is shown. In this arrangement, the pin endon tubular member 302 includes an annular groove 308 and an annulartooth 310. The annular groove 308 is defined by a radially inward facing(i.e., facing toward the centerline 306) undercut surface 312, anadjacent annular shoulder face 314 and an adjacent radially outwardfacing surface 316. The annular tooth is defined by the radially inwardfacing undercut surface 312, an annular tooth face 318 and a radiallyoutward facing surface 320. The box end on tubular member 304 includesan annular groove 322 and an annular tooth 324. The annular groove 322is defined by a radially outward facing undercut surface 326, anadjacent annular shoulder face 328 and an adjacent radially inwardfacing surface 330. The annular tooth 324 is defined by the radiallyoutward facing undercut surface 326, an annular tooth face 332 and aradially inward facing surface 334.

Surface 316 includes cylindrical portion 316 a and frustoconical portion316 b, while surface 334 includes cylindrical portion 334 a andfrustoconical portion 334 b. Clearance may be provided between surfaceportions 316 a and 334 a, but the frustoconical portions 316 b and 334 binterfere in a manner to produce a location of primary sealing contact340 that is axially spaced from shoulder plane 336, represented byinterference contact area 342. Surface 320 includes cylindrical portion320 a and frustoconical portion 320 b, while surface 330 includescylindrical portion 330 a and frustoconical portion 330 b. Clearance maybe provided between surface portions 320 a and 330 a, but thefrustoconical portions 320 b and 330 b interfere in a manner to producea location of primary sealing contact 343 that is axially spaced fromshoulder plane 338, represented by interference contact area 344. To bemost effective, the conical angle of each frustoconical portion 316 b,334 b, 320 b, 330 b relative to the central axis 306 of the connection(e.g., represented in one instance in FIG. 4 by angle θ relative to line321 that runs parallel to the central axis 306), as well as the conicalangle of other embodiments incorporating frustoconical surface portions,may be between about 1° and about 7°. Engaged threaded sections 360 and362 on opposite axial sides of the center shoulder are also shown. Theaxial locations of the seals and the radial thickness of the tubularmembers may be similar to that mentioned above with respect to theembodiment of FIG. 3.

Referring now to FIG. 5, an embodiment of a center shoulder sealconfiguration 500 with axial centerline 506 in which one side of theconnection lacks engaged threads is shown. In this arrangement, the pinend on tubular member 502 includes an annular groove 508 and an annulartooth 510. As in the previous embodiments, the annular groove 508 isdefined by a radially inward facing (i.e., facing toward the centerline506) undercut surface, an adjacent annular shoulder face 514 and anadjacent radially outward facing surface 516. The annular tooth 510 isdefined by the radially inward facing undercut surface, an annular toothface 518 and a radially outward facing surface 520. The box end ontubular member 504 includes an annular groove 522 and an annular tooth524. The annular groove 522 is defined by a radially outward facingundercut surface, an adjacent annular shoulder face 528 and an adjacentradially inward facing surface 530. The annular tooth 524 is defined bythe radially outward facing undercut surface, an annular tooth face 532and a radially inward facing surface 534.

In the illustrated embodiment, surface 516 and surface 534 areconfigured such that the location of primary sealing contact 540 isspaced further from the axial region 546 between the shoulder planes 536and 538 than the location of primary sealing contact 543 betweensurfaces 520 and 530. In this arrangement, the location of primarysealing contact 540 may be axially spaced from the shoulder plane 536 bybetween about 25 thousandths of an inch and about two inches; thelocation of primary sealing contact 543 may be axially spaced from theshoulder plane 538 by between about 25 thousandths of an inch and aboutone inch; the axial region 546 may extend from between about 20thousandths of an inch and about 250 thousandths of an inch; a radialspacing between the radially outward facing surface 516 and the radiallyoutward facing surface 520 in the shoulder plane 536 may be betweenabout 40 thousandths of an inch and about 500 thousandths of an inch;and a radial spacing between the radially inward facing surface 530 andthe radially inward facing surface 534 in the shoulder plane 538 may bebetween about 40 thousandths of an inch and about 500 thousandths of aninch. In this case the location of primary sealing contact 540 willgenerally be within 1.75 inches of the axial region 546.

Surfaces 516 and 534 include respective cylindrical surface portions516A and 534A with clearance provided. Surface portion 516A is followedby a curvilinear surface portion 516B, and surface portion 534A isfollowed by a frustoconical surface portion 534B, with location ofprimary sealing contact 540 occurring between portions 516B and 534B.Surface 530 includes a frustoconical portion 530A, followed by another,steeper frustoconical portion 530B, and surface 520 includes acurvilinear portion 520A that transitions to a cylindrical portion 520B.The location of primary sealing contact is between surface portion 530Aand surface portion 520A. It is noted that other surface variations arepossible as previously discussed. Engaged threaded sections 562 arelocated to one side of the center-shoulder, specifically the side thatis closer to the outer diameter of the connection, while the oppositeside of the connection lacks any engaged threads. Notably, on thisopposite side of connection a gap 550 may be provided between the pinnose shoulder face and the box shoulder face as shown to prevent the pinnose section from yielding due to torque, compression and expansion ofthe material at high temperatures. The faces may, however, come intocontact, such as at make-up, during compression or during materialexpansion. Also shown is a dope relief recess 560 in the surface 530 ofbox member 504 that will take-up excess thread dope as the connectionmakes up.

The configuration of FIG. 5 may be useful in connection with tubularsused in the geothermal markets, such as the steam assisted gravitydrainage market. Although the FIG. 5 embodiment lacks any engagedthreaded section at one side of the connection, it is recognized thatvariations are possible, including implementations in which an engagedthreaded section is also provided on the side of the connection thatincludes the location of primary sealing contact 540 that is spacedfurther from the axial shoulder region 546.

Embodiments of the present techniques include a center seal of a tubularconnection having contacting curvilinear surfaces. While previoustechniques have involved a tooth and groove configuration to produce thecenter shoulder seal, the present techniques do not necessarily involvea center tooth and groove seal. A center curvilinear sealing systemproduces an annular seal in a tubular connection between two curvilinearsurfaces approximately centered between two thread sets. Such a systemmay result in a more robust sealing connection compared to previoustechniques. For instance, it may be more difficult to produce a sealbetween the tooth and groove of a tubular connection due to the preciseshapes of the tooth and groove. Additionally, previous sealingtechniques may be susceptible to downhole or operational forces andtorque which may damage a tooth and groove connection.

The annular seal formed in the center curvilinear sealing system may berelatively more flexible. For example, unexpected forces may cause anannular seal of a center curvilinear seal to shift or adjust, ratherthan buckle or break. As both contacting sealing surfaces have curvedgeometries, bends or twists may result in shifts in the region ofinterference between the contacting curvilinear surfaces of twoconnected tubular members. Due to the geometries of two curvilinearsurfaces forming a curvilinear sealing system, the curvilinear sealingsystem may maintain an annular seal between two connected tubularmembers even if a length of multiple connections are subjected to bends,twists, torque, and/or torsion, in that an axis of the annular seal maychange without forming discontinuities in the annular curvilinear seal.

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of a curvilinear sealing system 600having a curvilinear surface geometry, where a pin 602 of a tubularcomponent and a box 612 of another tubular component each have acurvilinear surface geometry configured to form a curvilinear seal. Thepin 602 has a first set of threading 606, a second set of threading 608,and a center sealing surface 604 is axially disposed between the first606 and second 608 sets of threading. Similarly, the box 612 has a firstset of threading 616, a second set of threading 618, and a centersealing surface 614 axially disposed between the first 616 and second618 sets of threading. The first and second sets of threading of thecurvilinear sealing system 600 may include wedge threads, squarethreads, variable pitch threads, a combination of threads, or any otherthread geometry or combination of thread geometries suitable for usewith the curvilinear center seal of the present techniques. For example,a square thread may include threads having a square or near-squarethread geometry with tapering and substantially no flank angle. A wedgethread may include threads having a “dovetail” shape where the threadgeometry increases in thread width in the radial dimension between a pinmember and box member. In some embodiments, a relief pocket 610, 620 isdisposed axially adjacent to the center sealing surface in the pin 602of one tubular component and/or the box 612 of the other tubularcomponent.

A set of partial cross sectional diagrams of one or more embodiments ofa curvilinear sealing system is provided in FIGS. 7A-C, where FIG. 7A isa simplified cross sectional diagram of one tubular component 702 havinga curvilinear sealing surface 704 and a relief pocket 710 disposedbetween two regions of threading 706 and 708. The threading regions 706and 708 have been simplified without depicting any thread geometry, asany thread geometry may be compatible with the present techniques. FIG.7B is an expanded diagram of the curvilinear sealing surface 704 andrelief pocket 710 depicted in FIG. 7A. Embodiments of the curvilinearsealing surface 704 include curvilinear surfaces which may be an arc,curve, or portion of an elliptical, circular, spherical, or otherwisecurvilinear geometry. The curvilinear sealing surface 704 may have anelliptical curve, a circular or spherical curve, a curve having avarying radius, or a combination of different curves. For example, inone embodiment, a curvilinear surface 704 may have an elliptical curvein combination of a circular curve. The curvilinear sealing surface 704may be convex with respect to a linear pitch line 712, depicted as adotted line in FIG. 7B, of the tubular component 702 between the tworegions of threading 706 and 708. In some embodiments, the effectivecurve radius for a curvilinear sealing surface is between 0.5 inches and50 inches.

FIG. 7C is a simplified cross sectional diagram of an expanded view (asin FIG. 7B) of a connection, where opposing tubular components 702 and714 each have a curvilinear center sealing surface 704 and 716interfering with one another, forming a region of interference 720, andmay also be referred to as a curvilinear center seal 720. In someembodiments, when the two tubular components 702 and 714 are connected,the curvilinear sealing surfaces 704 and 716 engage, and the contactarea of the curvilinear sealing surfaces 704 and 716 of the center sealmay be referred to as an interference 720 of the two surfaces.Interference may be a region where two surfaces are designed to overlapor intersect, such that when two interfering surfaces are engaged, theyform an interfering contact area. When this interfering contact areaextends over an annular dimension between two tubular components, theinterfering contact area may form a seal between the two tubularcomponents. In some embodiments, the contact force in the region ofinterference 720 may include a compressional force between the sealingsurfaces 704 and 716. The contact force in the region of interference720 may also be described as a radial force extending along an annulardimension between the tubular components 702 and 714 to form the annularseal.

In some embodiments, the first and second curvilinear surfaces may haveidentical or different curve geometries. In some embodiments, the firstand second curvilinear surfaces have approximately symmetrical curveradii when the first and second tubular members are in a connectedconfiguration. However, in some embodiments, the first and secondcurvilinear surfaces may be offset, or may have different and/ornonsymmetrical curves when the first and second tubular members areconnected.

In one embodiment, the curvilinear sealing surface in the first andsecond tubular members may be approximately at the center point betweenthe first and second sets of threading. Further, in some embodiments,the interference may be approximately at the center of the first andsecond curvilinear sealing surfaces. For example, the interferencebetween the two curvilinear sealing surfaces may be within 1 inch oneither side from the center point between the two sets of threading. Indifferent embodiments, the curvilinear sealing surface may be locatedand configured such that the curvilinear sealing surface and/orinterference point may be at any point along the length of theconnector, between first and second sets of threading. For example, inone embodiment, the interference point may be closer to one set ofthreading than the other. Embodiments having different interferencelocations may be more suitable for different environments havingdifferent factors and requirements (e.g., torque requirements).

As depicted in FIG. 7C, a pin and box member may each have a reliefpocket 710, 718 respectively, axially disposed from the first and secondcurvilinear sealing surfaces 704, 716. The relief pocket 710, 718 may besized and located to contain thread lubricant (also referred to as dope)that is displaced as a pin and box member come together into a connectedconfiguration. The containment of the thread lubricant may reducepressure from lubricant which may otherwise be trapped in otherclearances or recesses of the connection. In some embodiments, a reliefpocket may be disposed at a distance of approximately 0.025 inches to0.500 inches away from a curvilinear sealing surface. Furthermore, whiletwo relief pockets are oppositely disposed, axially adjacent to thecenter seal, embodiments of the present disclosure include differentconfigurations and placements of the relief pockets. For example, insome embodiments, a relief pocket of the pin may be aligned with arelief pocket of the box once the first and second tubular members areconnected. In other embodiments, only one relief pocket (e.g., only oneon a box member or only one on a pin member) may be used, or no reliefpockets may be used.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross sectional and three-quarter rendering ofconnected tubular members 802, 804 having contacting curvilinearsurfaces at a center seal 806. In some embodiments, a curvilinearsealing surface may be approximately centered between the two threadsets 808, 810 of a pin end 802 and between the two thread sets 812, 814of a box end 804. Moreover, in some embodiments, the interference of thecontacting curvilinear sealing surfaces between the pin end and the boxend forms an annular seal in the tubular connection which may beapproximately centered between the engaged outer threads of the pin andbox. In some embodiments, the curvilinear sealing system may beconfigured such that unexpected forces may cause the annular seal toshift or adjust, such that the axis of the annular seal is not alwaysstationary. A curvilinear sealing system suitable for shifting oradjusting may be easier to operate and more robust than previoustechniques, as the center seal may be maintained under variousconditions.

Many modifications and other implementations set forth herein will beapparent having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoingdescriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to beunderstood that the systems and methods described herein are not to belimited to the specific implementations disclosed and that modificationsand other implementations are intended to be included within the scopeof the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense and not for purposes oflimitation.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A sealing system comprising: a firsttubular member having a first thread set and a second thread set and oneand only one first curvilinear sealing surface disposed axially betweenthe first and second thread sets; and a second tubular member having athird thread set and a fourth thread set and one and only one secondcurvilinear sealing surface disposed axially between the third andfourth thread sets; wherein the first tubular member and the secondtubular member are configured to connect when the first thread setengages with the third thread set and the second thread set engages withthe fourth thread set; and wherein the first and second curvilinearsealing surfaces are configured to interfere at an interference regionwhen the first and second tubular members connect; and both the firstand second curvilinear sealing surfaces are curvilinear where suchinterference occurs.
 2. The sealing system of claim 1, furthercomprising a relief recess disposed on the first tubular member.
 3. Thesealing system of claim 2, further comprising a second relief recessdisposed on the second tubular member.
 4. The sealing system of claim 1,wherein the first, second, third, and fourth thread sets comprise squarethreads, wedge threads, variable pitch threads, or combinations thereof.5. The sealing system of claim 1, wherein a geometry of the first andsecond curvilinear sealing surfaces comprise an elliptical curve, acircular curve, a toroidal curve, a varying-radius curve, or curvecombinations thereof.
 6. The sealing system of claim 1, wherein thefirst and second curvilinear sealing surfaces comprise a curve radiusbetween 0.5 inches to 50 inches.
 7. The sealing system of claim 1,wherein the first and second curvilinear sealing surfaces aresymmetrical when the first and second tubular members connect.
 8. Thesealing system of claim 1, wherein the first and second curvilinearsealing surfaces are asymmetrical when the first and second tubularmembers connect.
 9. The sealing system of claim 1, wherein the first andsecond curvilinear sealing surfaces each have different curvegeometries.
 10. The sealing system of claim 1, wherein the interferenceregion is approximately axially centered between the first and secondthread sets when the first and second tubular members connect.
 11. Thesealing system of claim 1, wherein the interference region is closer tothe first and third thread sets than to the second and fourth threadsets when the first and second tubular members connect.
 12. The sealingsystem of claim 1, wherein the interference region forms an annular sealbetween the first and second tubular members, wherein the sealing systemis configured such that an axis of the annular seal may change withoutforming discontinuities in the annular seal.
 13. A method comprising:moving a first tubular member relative to a second tubular member, suchthat a pin end of the first tubular member enters and axially overlapswith a box end of the second tubular member; rotating the first tubularmember relative to the second tubular member, such that a firstthreading and a second threading on the first tubular member engageswith a third threading and a fourth threading on the second tubularmember, respectively; and connecting the first tubular member to thesecond tubular member, such that one and only one first curvilinearsurface on the first tubular member between the first and secondthreading contacts one and only one second curvilinear surface on thesecond tubular member between the third and fourth threading; andwherein a contact force between the first and second curvilinearsurfaces form an annular seal between the first and second tubularmembers.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein rotating the first tubularmember relative to the second tubular member comprises displacinglubricant between the pin end and the box end into a first recess on thefirst tubular member.
 15. The method of claim 13, wherein rotating thefirst tubular member relative to the second tubular member comprisesdisplacing lubricant between the pin end and the box end into a secondrecess on the second tubular member.
 16. The method of claim 13, whereinthe contact force comprises a compressional force between the first andsecond curvilinear surfaces.
 17. The method of claim 13, wherein thecontact force comprises a radial force extending along an annulardimension between the first and second tubular members to form theannular seal.
 18. The method of claim 13, wherein connecting the firsttubular member to the second tubular member comprises contacting thefirst curvilinear surface to the second curvilinear surface at a contactpoint closer to the first and third threadings than to the second andfourth threadings.
 19. The method of claim 13, wherein connecting thefirst tubular member to the second tubular member comprises contactingthe first curvilinear surface to the second curvilinear surface at acontact point approximately axially centered between the first andsecond threadings.